Olefine-polysulphide plastic



Patented Feb. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES OLEFINE-POLYSULPHIDE PLASTIC Joseph 0. Patrick, Trenton, N. J.

No Drawing. Original application June 3, 1929, Serial No. 368,193. Divided and this application January 25, 1934, Serial No. 708,241

17 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in plastic substances, and more particularly in the general type of moldable plastic materials of the olefine-polysulphide type, such as are described in my prior application Serial No. 239,808, filed December 13, 1927. This is a division of my application Serial No. 368,193, filed June 3, 1929.

As disclosed in my prior application, above referred to, the olefine-polysulphide plastics of my invention may be roughly classified into two types, a soft product and a hard product, depending primarily upon the proportion of sulphur in the polysulphide compound employed in producing the plastic, and to some extent, upon the method of production. In general the best hard plastic which resembles vulcanite, bakelite and similar materials in its physical properties, is derived by the use of a polysulphide ranging from a minimum atomic proportion of 81.5 to $2.: to a maximum of 83.5 to $3.75. In the upper ranges the product resembles in some of its properties the soft type of plastic, more particularly described in my prior application above referred to. The present invention has to do more particularly with the hard type of plastic, which is normally hard and is capable of being molded under moderate heat.

In carrying out the present invention, a stabilized polysuphide solution is first prepared. The soluble polysulphides of the alkali or alkaline earth metals may be employed, but in' general the use of the sodium polysulphide is preferred for economic reasons. In preparing the polysulphide the selected alkali, for example, caustic soda, in aqueous solution or dispersion, is caused to react with sulphur and the solution boiled for a considerable period of time to produce a stabilized compound. For example, a suitable polysulphide solution may be prepared ln the following manner:

Three kilograms of caustic soda are dissolved in about 6 liters of water. The required proportion of sulphur to secure the desired proportion of sulphur in the polysulphide, which may be from 2 to 4 kilograms, is weighed into a container and, if desired, may be moistened with a liquid such as alcohol, acetone, an alcohol-benzol mixture, or the like, which will aid in wetting the sulphur. The greater portion of the alkali solution is added to the sulfur, say about 90%, is added to the sulphur and the mixture boiled until the sulphur has substantially completely entered into combination and the wetting liquid distilled off. The remainder of the alkali solution may then be added together with sufllcient water to bring the total volume of the solution to about 10 liters. The solution at this point is not stabilized, probably containing both higher and lower polysulphide complexes than correspond to the proportion of sulphur present. The solution is accordingly heated under a reflux condenser or under pressure in an autoclave for aconsiderable period of time, say up to 20 hours under atmospheric pressure and for less periods under higher pressure. By this treatment a stabilized material is secured, and the solution is rapidly filtered, preferably while taking precautions to prevent oxidation. Thus, by proceeding in the above described manner, employing caustic soda and sulphur in the proportions by weight of 3 to 2, a solution of polysulphide corresponding to the formula NEZSLS is secured. If the caustic soda and sulphur are in substantially equal proportions by weight, the resulting polysulphide has a formula corresponding to the polysulphide NazSzns. By employing caustic soda and sulphur in the relative proportions of 48 to 59 a polysulphide corresponding to Nazsasi is formed, and by using caustic soda and sulphur in the proportions of 40 to 61, a polysulphide corresponding to the formula NazSmz, containing some free sulphur, is produced. It is readily apparent that the same procedure may be employed in producing other soluble polysulphides, such as those of potassium, ammonium, calcium, barium, and the like, for use in the subsequent stages of the process. It is apparent that a polysulphide solution which has not been stabilized may be employed, but is not equally desirable.

A typical plastic of the hard type may be prepared in the following manner:

A polysulphide solution, for example, a sodium polysulphide solution, wherein the polysulphide has the empirical formula Narsass, is diluted with water to reduce its gravity to approximately that of ethylene dichloride. A quantity of ethylene dichloride is then added, preferably somewhat less than the equivalent quantity required for reaction. It is obvious that either an equivalent quantity or an excess of ethylene dichloride may be employed, but it is preferred for economic reasons that there be a slight excess of the polysulphide present. Thus, in the present example, 720 grams of ethylene dichloride are employed for each 1000 grams of polysulphide present in solution. The polysulphide solution and ethylene dichloride are then boiled together under a reflux condenser until a test of the spent liquid shows the absence of dissolved sulphides, this point being shown practically by a disappearance of the characteristic polysulphide color. Approximately two hours at the boiling point of the mixture (about 170 F. or a little lower) is sufllcient.

A highly plastic yellow mass accumulates in the container, and is separated from the liquid. It is kneaded with hot water to remove soluble salts and dried. In a short while, say 24 to 36 hours, it becomes hard, resembling vulcanite, synthetic resin products and celluloid in external appearance. It may be molded while soft, or after it has become hardened, it may be molded on reheating, beginning to soften at about 200 F. It can be heated to a temperature of about 350 F. at which it may be cast without decomposition. It is readily apparent that the product while soft may be mixed with any desired pigments, fillers or the like. When cast or molded it fits or reproduces the finest impressions in the mold and the hard product may be turned or otherwise readily worked with suitable tools.

The following example illustrates another method of producing the hard plastic product of the present invention, certain features of the procedure being set forth and claimed in my Patent No. 1,923,392, which issued August 22, 1933.

A solution of sodium polysulphide of the empirical formula NazSz.z is prepared, containing about 177 grams polysulphide sulphur per 1000 cc. To each 1000 cc. of such solution about 400 grams of calcium oxide freshly slaked with 200 cubic centimeters of water is added. The mixture is thoroughly agitated, about 300 cubic centimeters of a water miscible alcohol (ethyl, methyl, isopropyl or the like) is added and 180 cubic centimeters of ethylene dichloride is then added slowly at a rate to prevent the temperature of the mixture rising above about 145 F. The apparatus in which the mixing is conducted is provided with a reflux condenser to prevent loss. The plastic product separates out as a greenishblue, coarsely granular product. This powder is thoroughly washed with water to remove excess polysulphide and soluble salts, and is finally washed with a dilute acid solution of sulphuric or hydrochloric acid (say about /2 N.) to decompose and remove any residual calcium salts. In this washing, the product becomes white, is separated from the washing liquid by filtration, again washed with water and dried to constant weight. It is not softened or decomposed at the temperature of boiling water and does not dissolve, nor does it swell on contact with carbon disulphide. When heated to about 270 F., it .acquires the consistency of a stiff dough and can be molded readily. Temperatures of 270 to 325 F. may be employed in molding it.

The hard type of plastics herein described is secured with polysulphides containing such proportions of sulphur that the plastic product contains from about 63 to about 75% of sulphur, the said sulphur being in a combined form. As stated hereinbefore, the upper limit of sulphur in the hard type of plasic may vary somewhat in accordance with the method of separation. Thus, products produced by the method set forth in the second example above may contain slightly more sulphur, say 1 to 2%, than products obtained in accordance with the first method, while retaining the characteristics of the hard product.

Pigments, and more particularly the mineral pigments, such as iron oxide pigments, Prussian blue, chrome green, aluminum powder, lead oxide and the like may be incorporated with the powder to secure any desired coloration thereof. Similarly, lakes and rubber dyes may be used to color the product. Any desired fillers may be incorporated therein, such as carbon black, wood flour, asbestos fiber, whiting, magnesium carbonate and the like.

Large quantities of sulphur may be incorporated with the plastic product, even in proportions as high as 10 parts of sulphur to l of the plastic. The sulphur and the plastic material appear to be mutually soluble at molding temperature, and the product is a tough, strong, rubber-like plastic ,in which the sulphur apparently shows no tendency to crystallize. -On heating these mixtures of sulphur and plastic for temperatures around 260 to 270 F. more or less, for some time, say 3 to 4 days, rubber-like bodies of a greenishyellow color are obtained, which are permanently stable. The formation of such bodies is apparently aided by the presence of sulphur carriers, such as the various metallic oxides, in pro portion as low 2152 to 4% by weight.

Although the invention has been described in connection with the use of ethylene dichloride, it will be understood, of course, that other oleflne dihalides may be employed, such as ethylene dibromide, propylene dichloride or dibromide, and the like. The expression oleflne-polysulphide reaction body (or product or plastic) in the claims is intended to mean the material that is obtainable by causing an oleflne dihalide such as these, to react with such polysulphides as those mentioned above.

I claim:

1. A method of producing a plastic which comprises admixing free sulphur and a normally hard olefine-polysulfide plastic containing from 63 to 75% of combined sulphur.

2. The method or producing a plastic which comprises admixing free sulphur and a normally hard olefine-polysulphide plastic containing from 63 to 75% of combined sulphur and holding the mixture at a temperature above the boiling point of water.

3. A method of producing a plastic which comprises admixing free sulphur and a normally hard oleflne-polysulphide plastic containing from 63 to 75% of combined sulphur, the amount of free sulphur admixed with the olefine-polysulphide plastic being less than about 10 parts of sulphur to 1 part of the olefine-polysulphide plastic.

4. A method of producing a plastic which comprises admixing free sulphur and a normally hard olefine-polysulphide plastic containing from 63 to 75% of combined sulphur, and heating the mixture to a temperature around 260 to 270 F. 5. A method of producing a plastic which comprises admixing free sulphur and a normally hard olefine-polysulphide plastic containing from 63 to 75% of combined sulphur, and heating the mixture to a temperature around 260 to 270 F. for about 3 or 4 days.

6. A method of producing a plastic which comprises admixing free sulphur and a sulphur carrier and a normally hard oleflne-polysulphide plastic containing from 63 to 75% of combined sulphur. 7. A method of producing a plastic which comprises admixing free sulphur and a sulphur carrier and a normally hard oleflne-polysulphide plastic containing from 63 to 75% of combined sulphur, the amount of the sulphur carrier being about 2 to 4% by weight.

8. A method of producing a plastic which comprises admixing free sulphur and a metallic oxide and a normally hard oleflne-polysulphide plastic containing from 63 to 75% of combined sulphur. mally hard oleflne-polysulphide plastic contain- 9. A plastic comprising free sulphur and a normally hard oleflne-polysulphide plastic containing 63 to 75% of combined sulphur.

10. A plastic comprising free sulphur and a normally hard oleflne-polysulphide. plastic containing 63 to 75% 01' combined sulphur, the amount of the free sulphur being less than about 10 parts to 1 part of the oleflne-polysulphide plastic.

11. A plastic comprising free sulphur, a sulphur carrier and a normally hard oleflne-polvsulphide plastic containing 63 to 75% of combined sulphur.

12. A plastic comprising free sulphur, .a metallic oxide and a normally hard'oleflne-polysulphide plastic containing 63 to 75% oi combined sulphur.

13. A plastic comprising tree sulphur, about 2 to 4% by weight of a sulphur carrier and a noring 63 to 75% of combined sulphur.

14. A plastic comprising free sulphur and a normally hard oleflne-polysulphide plastic containing 63 to 75% of combined sulphur, said plastic being a rubber-like. body of greenishyellow color. 7

15. A stable product containing one part of an oleiine-polysulphide plastic having from 63 to 75% of combined sulphur and up to about ten it parts of tree sulphur.

16. A stable product containing one part of an olefine-polysulphide plastic having from 63 to 75% or combined sulphur and up to about ten parts 01' tree sulphur and a sulphur carrier. 17. A stable product containing one part of an oleflne-polysulphide plastic having from 63 to 75% of combined sulphur and up to about ten partsof free sulphur and about 2 to 4% by weight of metallic oxides.

. a JOSEPH c. PATRICK. 

